Remote Connectivity

Abstract

As a security expert, consider this all-too-real scenario: a passenger sits in the airport, working on his computer, waiting for the plane to start boarding. While sitting there, surfing on the wireless airport network, he notices that almost every laptop in sight is a Mac. On a hunch, he opens Bonjour Browser to discover that many of these laptops have various remote management tools (the Apple Remote Desktop client or Screen Sharing, based on VNC), SSH or Telnet enabled. He also notices that many of these computers are not password-protected, and are therefore easily controllable by anyone with the gall to tap into the computer. Within 10 minutes, nearly all the laptop lids are closed with their owners suspiciously looking around, attempting to determine which passenger was entertaining them with the “joke of the day” on their display.